Tick-tock clock in blanket for sleeping.

Do you feed him with Isabelle? Our son's puppy doesn't eat well at their house, but here with the pack, he eats everything right away.

Not sure about the pooping thing. One thought would be to clean it off the rug and move it to the place you want him to go. Maybe he'll begin to see that area as his "potty."

Where are those pictures????? :)

Maybe put him in the crate at random times throughout the day for a few minutes and let him out when he's being quiet? Mine caterwauled the first couple of nights they were in the kennel. So, during the day I would feed them in their crates, toss treats and toys in there, put a Kong with yummies in there and lock them in for a bit. Anything to keep them occupied and reinforce that the crate was a fun room rather than punishment.

After that for the next week or so they'd cry for maybe 10 minutes or so at night when they were first locked in, but then they settled down. They still see their crates as their "rooms" and go there to get away from whatever is bothering them, and often sleep in them even though they no longer need to be locked in them any more at nights or when I'm gone during the day.

With the pooping thing, maybe remove the rug entirely or just go out with him and when you can tell he's about to use the rug, gently tell him no and direct him to where you want him to go. He doesn't know yet that the rug is inappropriate, and if he keeps getting access to it he'll think what he's doing is okay. If the breeder had newspaper or rubber mats in the puppy area he may be used to going on something and not realize he needs to go on the bare ground.

Just want to add that the pooping thing -- he sounds like he's trying hard to do the right thing, poor dear! I agree that it may be just a matter of making sure he knows where the 'right' place is here. I can hear him scampering up the steps to try to be a good boy... just want to give him a big ol' squish : )

Can you block the porch or put him on a leash until he does his business?

Once he has pooped a couple times on the grass (Praise him- LARGE) he will learn that's the place to go.

Labs are smart, they catch on quickly. They want to please you.

ML

Take him on a leash to the poop/pee spot. No playing, petting, smelling of daisies. Just poop/pee and then back in. Lots of praise when he does his business. Get a word for it - "business" or "potty" or something, so he learns that's what he needs to do. We use "whizzle" here.

Re the crate, I'm having trouble with that, too. My last puppy, I put the crate in our bedroom and that made him happy. This pup just cries and screams. So I gave up for a while and am starting back. In the crate for a little while. 10 minutes, 20, then 30 -- all while I'm home so she doesn't panic. I have also read a suggestion that the pup be fed in the crate.

Little pups may need to eat several times a day, but the grazing shouldn't be allowed. My pup is 5+ months old now and sometimes wolfs down here food, sometimes grazes. She gets fed morning and evening. This evening, she didn't eat much and wandered off. So I took up the food. They'll learn to eat it when its there. Eventually she'll go to once a day like my adult dog.

Also, Poco has a very short attention span. If something more interesting is happening (cat walking by) she'll go check that out and leave her dish. So now I take her dish into my office and close the door while she eats. No distractions.

With the pooping thing, take the rug out and try to keep him contained in the area you want him to use and once he poops, give him that treat. When he poops some place else, instead of a treat, just a teeny tiny scolding. Labs are so smart he'll get the drift quick.

Another easy thing you can do for his restroom area is put up some temporary chicken wire to make a small corral. It works really well as long as you give him the treats immediately when he goes. And the corral is easy enough to take down once he's been trained.

If you're not wanting to build one, they also sell puppy corrals on Amazon

Here is a link that might be useful: Puppy Corral

I'm listening and grateful for all suggestions. Fly, you are right. He is a pleaser, just very young and confused. I'll remove the rug on the front porch. He seems hell bent that he should run like crazy to get there in time. I haven't scolded him yet - just lots of praise while telling him "go potty" as he is going and after, of course.

I'm switching him over to Bill-Jack Large Breed puppy food so I'm busy mixing it with his old stuff. I'm moistening it for now. He is so young! His teeth are like needles.

It's hard to get good pictures of him as he seems to be in motion or sound asleep. It's hard to get good pictures of a blur! Plus his all-brown coloring is a bear for the camera.

Sounds like you are doing the right things - you are not scolding him (nor should you) - he is young and he's only been in his new home a few days. I agree with the leash and taking him out to the same area several (maybe many LOL) times a day. Say go potty or something similar. And yes, PRAISE for anything he does right. Very important. I worried to death about housebreaking and it was soooo easy with our Abby. (I had never had an indoor dog before.)

We don't crate, so I can't comment on that. I have heard the clock idea before or an article of clothing that smells like you can also be comforting.

He is adorable. Such fun days!!

tina

Umm, please don't misunderstand. When I say small scolding, I'm just meaning a slight change in your tone of voice so he understands the difference between happy owner and not happy owner. I was told this by a Vet I was dating years ago. He taught me a lot of things about training and handling, I'd never suggest something that would be harmful to a puppy.

My comment wasn't directed towards you Lukki (in case you thought it was?).

tina

Tina, thanks, I did just cause of the way I worded my original response "just a teeny tiny scolding" which was probably not the best way to express what I meant.

Golddust, A few years ago I had a friend who got 2 Golden Retriever puppies. As soon as they were old enough, she enrolled them into Puppy Kindergarten classes at Petsmart and was amazed at how much they helped with training and behavior. Takes some time and patience but she said it was worth every minute and penny. Her two dogs are so well trained and just amazing.

Sorry Lukki - to be honest, I just skimmed through and hadn't read your response until I saw your second one. LOL

I second the Petsmart idea. We did puppy kindergarten through another facility, but it was great. However, we had Petsmart's potty training booklet and talked with a trainer there - all great advice, and we sailed right through. (Have I mentioned before how terrifed I was re: potty training?!!)

We have a very loveable neighbor dog who is a chocolate lab. Copper is his name. Before we had our little pup, Copper was a regular visitor at our house. He liked to drink out of our water garden and, of course, enjoyed the treats I kept for him. Sadly, he is jealous of our little pup! Beautiful dogs and they are wonderful with children.

tina

I second the idea of getting the pup into a training class as soon as you can. Even if you think you know how to raise a dog, the classes are helpful. In the meantime, get a copy of Puppies for Dummies. I can almost guarantee that right now you are inadvertently teaching your dog things that later you will wish you hadn't.

As for trainers, Petsmart is better than nothing, and if it is the best you can afford, then go there for training. But a trainer with his or her own training center would be a better choice. It's not that the Petsmart trainers are not good, but the training program is really rushed, IMO.

Here is a link that might be useful: Puppies for Dummies

I remember the first week after getting a puppy I would always lose 5 pounds!

I have to say, our dogs were always spoiled. We only have Grace but she's slept with us since day one.

She learned to go to sleep during those hours and I'd get up 3 or 4 times during the night and take her outside. In the day time she'd just follow me to the backdoor and did her business.

She gets (got) rewarded with milkbones. When it was time to go to bed I'd give her a little milkbone. She's 7 now and at bedtime sits on the bed waiting for that milkbone! lol.

I know a lot of people swear by crates though.

Have you tried doggie pads? If you see him trying to pee indoors, rush him to the pad. It worked for us about 50% of the time.

Congrats on the new puppy, sounds like you're getting some good advise/suggestions from others on training, so I thought I'd bring up food/diet.

My suggestion would be to try to do some research on dog food and diet if you can. Some people don't know or bother to really look at pet food or diet until their pet unfortunately starts to have health problems like allergies, arthritis, weight or digestive issues, kidney/liver issues etc. Diet can be an important contributor to the overall health and long term health of your pet.

Some info that might be helpful to consider

Dog Food Advisor

Commercial Dog Food Selecting Tips

The Dog Food Project, Ingredients to avoid

Paper on dogs and cats biological nutritional needs

Holistic Vet Dr. Karen Becker talks about pet food and pet nutrition in the YouTube Videos below.

The Best and Worst Foods For Your Pet

The Quality Of Pet Food Ingredients Part 1

The Quality Of Pet Food Ingredients Part 2

Table Food For Your Pets

Personally I feed a balanced Prey Model Raw diet and love it, tiny poop piles (half the size of kibble poop), no more expensive dental cleanings with the vet, less shedding, no more bad breath, and very little gas or dog odor. There are different types of raw diets, Prey Model and Barf being the two main ones. However not everyone is comfortable feeding these types of diets, and on some occasions (although not many) these diets aren't best for the individual dog.

Why pets can eat a Raw Meat Diet

Why a Raw Diet is logical

Info on Prey Model Raw diet written by a Vet tech

Why feed a Prey Model Raw Diet

Benefits

Success Stories

How to feed a Prey Model Raw Diet

I can attest to the diet of puppies. We almost learned the hard way. The biggest mistake I made was not asking what food Grace was eating when we got her.

So I fed her what I always fed my dogs. She lapped it up like crazy.

Day two she wouldn't eat, was lathargic, etc. The vet said it was probably the quick introduction of new food.

Scary!

Yes, you should never change diet quickly. Add it in to the current diet.

Roobear - that is interesting. We have been very careful in choosing what our dog eats. Think of the recent dog food scares. Also my dog has a bit of a sensitive stomach - not exactly food allergies, but sensitivity to some things (she's the same way with skin sensitivities). She eats a good bit of real (people) food but we do supplement (at our vet's recommendation - dry food and we also use the natural balance food which is a roll - looks kind of like salami). I cannot remember what her dry food is. It is so worth it to spend the effort on their diet - you can tell the difference in the way they feel, the look of their coat/eyes, etc. and as you mentioned, their digestion. BTW, our vets do not recommend milk bones.

tina

Lurki, I understood what you meant. Since he is 8 weeks, I haven't scolded him YET. I generally wait until I am pretty darn sure they know where to go potty before I scold them. Jack is not there yet.

He does well on a leash when we are walking but putting it on him in the yard has been a nightmare. He grabs it with his teeth and rolls over and over. (Think alligator death roll.) It's dangerous right now! He does fine if I'm walking him but standing around to wait for him to do his business isn't working. He comes when called, so I have been taking him way out in the yard to do his business. He still thinks he should run to poop on the porch but I have distracted him each time and mopped the porch with bleach water. (I think he is used to going on a pad.) ***He has peed and pooped in all the right places last evening and today***. Woo!!

I'm slowing changing his diet. I know all about that. Roo, I will readily admit I plan to be a terrible mom right here and now. He will be eating commercial dog food. Bill-Jack is high end. I've raised a few pups on it and feed the high end salmon stuff to my adults. I simply refuse to cook for two dogs with a collective weight of 150 pounds. If they were small dogs, no problem. I cooked for 120 pound Dubs for 4 months and I'm soo done with that for now.

I'm taking Jack to the vet for a check up in an hour. He has a health guarantee if we get him in before three days. Now THE VET is the place that scares me for contracting Parvo, etc. I won't let him down inside the vet hospital.

I am a years long, ardent watcher of The Dog Whisperer although I admit to projecting a bit of human feelings on my dogs. I'm trying to watch the messages I'm projecting but got stressed out once this morning when he was spazzing out, biting everything in sight including my robe and a blanket. I gave him (and me) a time out for a few minutes behind the puppy gate. When he quieted down for a few minutes, I let him back out when both of our mindsets had changed. I do think dogs feed on energy so I'm trying to be aware of mine.

As far as puppy classes, we've done them with the last three pups and will do them again for socialization/refresher. We live rurally and the puppy classes we took were much like I imagine Petco's to be, only way more expensive. He's not quite old enough for puppy classes right now.

I don't feed milk bones for treats either. Oakley, I took Jack outside before bed and he slept until 6:00 AM. Success!!

Bulldog pups and Lab pups are hugely different! Bullies are low key as pups. Lab pups can eat your sofa before breakfast!

Thanks everyone!! If you think of anything else, please post it. It takes a village to raise a pup!

Yes, labs are very high energy! But, Jack will be so worth it.

If he starts going on the porch again, I have read you can move the pads to where you want them to go, so you might put a pad on the porch and then start moving it out away. Alot of trouble, and hopefully he is already beyond that. It sounds like he is learning quick - you have only had him a few days! I know it is tiring and of course you get frustrated but the time out sounds like the perfect solution.

Not to single anyone out about the milkbones, just saw that and we just recently had Abby's teeth cleaned (she is 5) and the vet made a comment about milk bones. I can't remember if they are high in calories (very important to keep a small dog from becoming overweight - they are subject to pancreatitis) or what exactly, just they that do not recommend them.

I can't wait to see more pics!

tina

Oh my! Sounds like he is one happy little guy! ha! Bet you'll get the cutest pictures once he settles down.

Oh I agree on home cooking for your dogs, it can take extra time that's why I feed raw. I buy a variety of meat (bone in and boneless)and organs, cut them up into the right portions and stick them in the freezer.

When I feed I just put what I'm gonna feed into a bowl in the fridge to defrost and then dump it into their dog dishes.

I just love not having to pick up dog poop piles in my yard anymore, it's smaller amounts and within 3 days they turn to dust and just blow away.

Reading about Jack biting your blanket etc. reminded me that our Lab chewed everything. She was 8 months old when we rescued her and we've never had a dog eat what she ate...the tires on the lawn mower, the hose on the Shop Vac, the corner of my foyer stairs, a mink teddy bear, and ink pens. She loved ink!

We had Rottweilers and German Shepherds who did less damage. But I remember reading one phrase in a dog book - actually I remember two phrases about Labs. One - they are inordinate chewers and they are inordinate shedders.

Vet check report: He passed with flying colors. The vet thought he was a mellow puppy for a Lab. He checked his hips, eyes, ears, etc. He held him and checked his temperament (feet, tail etc., handling) while he let my niece, who works there, give him his shots and worm medicine.

We went over socialization suggestions. Got heart worm medication and frontline. He has a tiny bit of entropin but he said he was certain he'd grow out of it and felt it was nothing to worry about. He's not too fat and not too skinny, weighing in at 15.4 pounds. He said, "He is a very lucky dog to have gotten you."

My niece took him all around the office and he got to kiss lots of people today. (Socialization for the day - check.)

Isabelle is getting better with him. Today, when she corrected him I was grateful.

Maire, I can see that they are determined chewers! He is primarily contained to the kitchen, laundry and family room because of the floors. I've already switched out my antique rug ($$$) for a Costco rug in the family room. I just bought that beautiful Draper's cabinet in my family room and my favorite, 19 year old leather sofa lives in there too. (This is the making of nightmares.)

I have shut off my giant living and dining room by closing the doors. This house is too big to manage a pup unless I do that. I have been carrying him through the closed off rooms to go outside. I don't even want him to think he can set foot in there for now.

Still having 100% success with potty training but I'm tired tonight.

I'm thinking he's a very lucky dog to have gotten you, too.

Just signed Jack up for puppy classes with a gal who trains therapy dogs. She is an advocate of taking the pup everywhere and treating them like an adult from the get-go. She said out of 9000 therapy dogs Nation wide, only 2 have contacted Parvo. Not bad stats, considering both came out of PARVO unscathed. I'm in. Just can't let him eat anything off the ground when we are out and about. (It's all business.)

I bought Jack a gentle leader tonight and look forward to using it tomorrow. Hopefully this weather clears. We had a tornado touch down about 30 miles from us and we were on tornado watch for the very first time. (I didn't freak but watched the news.) Crazy weather! Jack is afraid of thunder. I ignored his reaction but the lightening was so frequent I finally just brought him back inside after he quieted down. Yep. He peed in the house during the storm.

Isabelle seems like she is finally coming around to Jack. Today she tried to play with him! She is used to Dubs, who only liked blankets, so there has been no competition for her beloved toys until JACK. She is such a Diva that we were concerned about her reaction to the puppy playing with her toys. It HAS taken considerable supervision but today she let him play with her favorite ball. She gave him the stinky eye from the sofa the whole time he played with it but she didn't react.

I bought some bitter apple to spray of my furniture. I can see he is a chewer and my furniture value is at risk so I'm being proactive.

He cried in his crate today for about 12 long minutes. Tonight, he did fine in the crate. He is currently sleeping on a pillow on the floor. The only decent pics I can get of him is when he is sleeping. He's just a blur otherwise. (Sigh)

Aww, Jack sounds like a doll!! Congratulations Golddust, I think you've got a wonderful addition to your family.

Now...where are the pictures???!!!!